Filter Paper Pod Compacted Coffee Portions

ABSTRACT

A filter pod for portions of compacted coffee, wherein a shape of a pod is asymmetrical in relation to a sealing plane of a circular peripheral zone and a central part is coplanar with the plane.

FIELD OF THE ART

The present invention relates to the technique of manufacturingcompacted pods and specifically regards filter paper pods for packagingportions of ground coffee. International reference classification: B 65b.

STATE OF THE ART

The use of filter paper pods to package portions of ground products ofvarying particle size, such as ground coffee, ground barley, tea orother similar substances, is well known in the art.

Standardized filter paper pods, which have a certain degree ofcompacting and display a lenticular shape that is symmetrical inrelation to the plane of the flat circular peripheral sealing zone, arelikewise known. Within said flat peripheral zone the symmetrical podsdisplay a characteristic rounded circular edge. During actual use ofsaid standardized symmetrical pods, which have a certain degree ofcompacting, a drawback is manifested in that water tends initially topass along the rounded edge rather than being forced through the centralcompacted part containing the product. This has the effect of reducingthe quality of the brew obtained with said standardized symmetricalcompacted pods.

In fact, along their rounded circular peripheral edge, said pods do notfit tightly to the filter holder of the machine that makes espresso; asa result the water tends initially to pass through the gap formed aroundthe edge rather than through the body of the pod.

It is thus evident that the resulting brew will have a lower quality,precisely because of the greater presence of water that has not passedthrough the central part of the standardized symmetrical pod.

Asymmetrical pods having a very soft exterior are also known; as theyare not compacted, they must be larger in size in order to be packedwith the same product weight as standardized symmetrical compacted pods.The problem to be solved, therefore, is to produce compacted filterpaper pods having a conformation such as to prevent water from escaping,at the start of the brewing process, into the gap formed at the edge ofthe pod and ensure that it is instead forced through the central partcontaining product. The solution proposed by the present inventionsolves all of the problems inherent in compacted filter paper podshaving a standardized symmetrical shape and makes it possible to obtainespresso coffee of excellent quality.

DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be explained referring to the appended drawings,which serve solely illustrative purposes and in no way limit the scopeof the invention itself.

FIG. 1 shows a diametral cross-section of a compacted pod (A), whichdisplays a shape that is asymmetrical in relation to the plane (P) ofthe flat circular peripheral sealing zone (Z). It may be noted that thecentral part (C) of the asymmetrical compacted pod (A) is coplanar withsaid peripheral sealing plane (P). It should also be noted that thefilter paper in the central part (C) is in contact with the underlyingportion of coffee contained inside the asymmetrical pod (A).

FIG. 2 shows a diametral cross-section of an asymmetrical compacted podwhose central part (C′) is slightly concave and sunken in relation tothe plane (P) of the flat circular peripheral sealing zone (P). Itshould be noted that the filter paper in the central part (C′) is incontact with the underlying portion of coffee contained inside theasymmetrical pod.

FIG. 3 shows a diametral cross-section of an asymmetrical compacted podhaving the same coplanar external shape as shown in FIG. 1. It shouldhowever be noted that the coffee inside the pod does not adhere to theoverlying filter paper in the central part (C), which is coplanar withthe plane (P) of the circular peripheral sealing zone (Z).

FIG. 4 shows a diametral cross-section of an espresso machine. Itillustrates the initial behaviour of water during the brewing processwith a standardized symmetrical compacted pod (E).

It should be noted that, at the start of the brewing process, watertends to flow into the gap (G) formed along the rounded peripheral edgewhere the edges of the top and bottom sections of the filter holder (S;I) do not perfectly match the shape of the pod (E).

In fact, around the peripheral edge there is a gap (G) which allows thewater to flow downward at the start of the brewing process, withoutpassing through the body of the pod (E). As the brewing processcontinues, the initial gap (G) is filled due to the swelling of the wetpod. This situation results in a poorer quality brew precisely becausethe initial water fails to pass through the body of the symmetricalcompacted pod (E).

FIG. 5 shows a diametral cross-section of an espresso machine. Itillustrates the initial behaviour of water during the brewing processwith an asymmetrical compacted pod (A) whose central part (C) iscoplanar with the plane (P) of the circular peripheral sealing zone (Z).Also warranting particular attention is the fact that the diameter (D)of the cavity in the section (S) forming the top part of the brewingcompartment is smaller than the diameter defining the circular zone (C)inside the peripheral sealing zone (Z) of the pod (A).

It should be noted that the upper filter holder section (S) closes toform a seal not only with the lower section (I) of the pod brewingcompartment, but also with part of the central zone (C) of the body ofthe asymmetrical pod (A).

This feature prevents water from escaping, even during the initial phaseof brewing, into the gap (G) existing around the edge of the pod andforces the water through the central part, thereby ensuring, right fromthe start of the process, a homogenous, high quality brew.

FIG. 6 is analogous to FIG. 5 and serves to highlight that a highquality brew may also be obtained using compacted pods (A′) packed witha lower product weight.

The improvement in the brewing process prevents the undesired initialflow of water through the gap (G) and thus ensures greater uniformity ofthe brew, which is of good quality.

An extended series of practical trials has demonstrated that goodquality espresso may also be obtained with compacted pods containingreduced quantities of coffee.

The figures also highlight the simplicity of producing the compacted podof the present industrial invention.

In the figures the individual details are marked as follows:

A indicates an asymmetrical compacted pod containing the same quantityof product as a standardized symmetrical compacted pod (E).

A′ indicates an asymmetrical compacted pod containing a smaller quantityof product.

C indicates the flat central part of an asymmetrical pod.

C′ indicates the slightly concave part of an asymmetrical pod.

D indicates the diameter of the cavity in the upper section (S) of thefilter holder.

E indicates a compacted pod having a standardized symmetrical shape.

G indicates the gap formed between the edge of the pod and the brewingcompartment.

I indicates the lower section of the pod brewing compartment.

P indicates the plane of the peripheral sealing zone of a pod.

S indicates the upper section of the pod brewing compartment.

Z is the coplanar edge of a peripherally sealed pod.

The invention naturally lends itself to different embodiments as regardsboth the dimensions and structural proportions, as well as thetechnological choices in respect of the materials to be used in themanufacturing process.

It is evident that the pod diameter, thickness and degree of compactnesswill be adapted to market demands.

The innovative concept underlying the present invention essentiallyconsists in the asymmetric shape of the compacted pod and thesubstantial coplanarity between the central part (C) and the plane (P)of the circular peripheral sealing zone (Z) of the pod.

Now that the inventive combinations of the present invention have beenmade apparent, anyone with average skill in the art may produce, bymeans of simple and obvious practical deductions, without expending anyinventive effort, asymmetrical compacted pods reproducing the originalcharacteristics of the present invention as substantially described,illustrated and claimed below.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A filter paper pod for compacted coffee portionshaving a shape that is asymmetrical in relation to a sealing plane of acircular peripheral zone, wherein a central part is slightly sunk inrelation to the plane.
 8. A filter paper pod of claim 7, wherein thecoffee packed inside the pod does not adhere to the overlying centralpart of the asymmetrical pod.
 9. A filter paper pod of claim 7, having adegree of compacting calibrated so as to obtain good quality espressocoffee with portions of lower weight.
 10. A filter paper pod of any ofclaim 7, having a degree of compacting calibrated so as to obtain goodquality espresso coffee with portions of equal weight.